The Miles In The Mall One Couple`s Exercise Program Seems To Be Catching On During These Health-conscious Days. The Broward Mall Pacer`s Club-mall Walk Program Is Set To Begin Wedneday.

July 1, 1985|By Beverly Stracher, Staff Writer

While most people shop the Broward Mall, Max and Sadie Luchans walk it.

With arms entwined, comfortable shoes on their feet and pep in their steps, the Luchanses walk the mall eight times a day.

That`s a total of six miles.

``We get up in the morning at six o`clock, I shave, eat breakfast and out we go,`` says Luchans, 74, a retiree from Cleveland, Ohio.

It takes them about 15 minutes to walk the three-quarter-mile long mall in Plantation.

Each morning, they greet and sing to merchants opening for the day`s business.

Coffee or bank errands? The Luchanses are ready to serve.

``They are always smiling and full of jokes,`` says Florence Appel, owner of the Shape Shop. ``Even when you are in a grouchy mood, they come in singing.

``They idolize each other and are a pleasure to be around. They are marvelous.``

In addition to being a smiling face in the morning, says Glenn Lybbert, manager of a shoe store, Mrs. Luchans is a regular customer.

``They are very friendly people,`` he says.

Seven years ago this August, the Luchanses took their first steps as mall walkers in the Broward Mall.

They`ve been at it ever since.

The display windows of small stores are just a blur as the Luchanses pass. And they have memorized the locations of the 133 speciality and four department stores.

``We`re the fastest walkers,`` says Mrs. Luchans. ``We have to walk. It`s our life. We get here every morning at 8 o`clock.``

The couple`s exercise program seems to be catching on during these health- conscious days.

A Broward Mall Pacer`s Club-Mall Walk Program is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. Wednesday next to the mall`s food concession area.

The program, co-sponsored by the North Broward Hospital District`s Health Promotion Center and the Broward Mall, is designed to provide a climate- controlled atmosphere for anyone wanting to walk for exercise.

Pamphlets are to be distributed that will show how far the walk is at certain points in the mall. The first 50 participants will get free T-shirts.

After Wednesday, walkers are on their own. They can walk before or after regular mall hours.

There are about six couples who walk the mall, but the Luchanses are the best-known and most consistent walkers.

Luchans, who was in the scrap metal business for 50 years prior to moving to Sunrise, is legally blind. He wears glasses and a patch over his left eye. He has 10 percent of his vision in the right eye.

His wife for years has suffered aches and pains, especially in her hips. For 15 years, the 4-foot-11 sprightly woman had high blood pressure and was on medication.

It was her high blood pressure that got the couple walking.

A doctor continues to monitor Mrs. Luchans` condition, but she no longer takes medication.

``It`s so cool here,`` says Mrs. Luchans, 69, who has lost 20 pounds since she started walking. ``You can walk so fast, it`s marvelous.

``To walk out in that humidity is terrible. It`s not good for you.``

During cooler months, they walk outdoors along Sunset Strip in Sunrise from their Waterbridge condominium.

Walking together also helps keep a marriage together, they say. While taking brisk steps, talk is about their four children, nine grandchildren or budgeting their money.